Illuminated sign.



' W/ E3853 I LTBHM F DE'UAH J. F. DRUAR.

ILLUMINATED SIGN. APPLIOATION FILED 001*. '1, 1908.

936,226. Patented 0ct.5,1909.

2 SHEET8-SHEET 1. Hi

INVENTOH A TTOHNEYS J. F. DRUAR.

ILLUMINATED SIGN, APPLIOATION FILED OUT. 7, 1908.

936,226, PatentedOct. 5, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOI? W ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN FENIMORE DRUAR, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

ILLUMINATED SIGN.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN FENIMORE DRUAII, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Illuminated Signs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to advertising signs such as those hung out in front. of stores or shops to indicate the business done therein, and it consists in the combinations, arrangements and constructions herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide an illuminated sign which can be read at night. from a considerable distance with ease and which can also be read equally as well in the daylight.

A further object of my invention is to produce a sign composed entirely of metal which, while having the appearance of being illuminated by a number of lights, is in reality illuminated by a much less number, in some cases only one.

A further object is to produce a reflecting surface for illuminated signs which will diffuse the reflected light so as to give the surface a white appearance in strong contrast to the letters, designs, or trademarks thereon.

A further object is to provide a letter or design to be used with my improved reflecting surface which may be more readily distinguished than those in ordinary use.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification.

My invention is illustrated in the accom panying drawings, in which Figure l is a side view of a sign embody ing my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail view of a portion of the reflecting surface. Fig. 3 is a side view partly in section of the device, and Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view of a portion of the gas pipe frame.

In carrying out my invention I provide a supporting frame which consists of a horizontal piece of gas pipe or similar metal tubing 1, having a downwardly extending member 2 attached thereto at its central part. On eachside of this tubing I arrange reflecting surfaces 3 and 3, which are attached at their outer edges to the inner edges of stiffening rims A and 4 respectively. These are preferably corrugated as shown to add strength and also to give the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 7, 1908.

Patented Oct. 5, 1909.

Serial No. 456,551.

sign a neat appearance. In Fig. 3 I have shown these stiffening rims as being integral with a connecting member .3, which forms the outer periphery of the sign, but they can be made separate.

The reflecting or backing plates 3 and 3 are formed of sheet metal and are double crimped to insure a diffusion of the light. I accomplish this by passing the plate through crimping rollers which crimp the plate 1n one direction and then turning the plate and crimping it at right angles. The plate then presents the appearance shown in Fig. 2.

Soldered, wired or otherwise secured to the outer faces of the backing plates 3 and 8 are the letters 6 of the sign. These may be letters cut or punched from a flat strip or they may be raised block letters, or of any other shape or style.

In order to illuminate the sign I arrange a powerful incandescent light 7 and 7 on each side, as shown in Fig. 3. These lamps are preferably 80 watt tantalum lamps and are fed by current through the wires 8 carried in the gas pipe conduits 1. The lamps are supported on the arms 9 and 9 respectively projecting from the center of the sign and communicating with the pipe 1 as shown in Fig. at. The prismatic reflectors 10 and 10' serve to reflect the light and to distribute it evenly over the surface of the si n.

The sign is suspended from the side of a wall or other support 11 by means of a rod 12 secured thereto. Chains 13 are attached to the rod 12 and extend between the plates 3 and 3, being secured to the frame 1 as shown in Fig. 3. Braces 14 may be provided for the lower end of the member 2. This provides a strong and durable means of suspension.

In practice I prefer to give the backing surfaces 3 and 3 a coating of some white reflecting substance, such as aluminum paint while the letters themselves are treated with a dull black paint. The resulting contrast enablesthe sign to be read at a great distance. In order to still further heighten the effect I may provide a border of raised surfaces 15, approximately of hemispherical shape, which when treated with the white reflecting paint gives the appearance of a row of incandescent lights around the sign.

An ornamental beading is shown at 16.

I am aware that other forms of the device based upon the same general principles might be made, but I regard as my oWn all such modifications as fairly fall Within the spirit and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim 1. In an illuminated sign, a hollow frame, means for suspending said frame, roughened reflecting surfaces on both sides of said frame, non-reflecting characters carried by said reflecting surfaces, incandescent lamps secured to said frame, Wires disposed in said frame for supplying current to said lamps, prismatic reflectors for said lamps, and a row of raised hemispherical reflecting members around the outside of said characters.

2. In an illuminated sign, a hollow frame, means for suspending said frame, roughened reflecting surfaces on both sides of said frame, non-reflecting characters carried by said reflecting surfaces, incandescent lamps secured to said frame, Wires disposed in said frame for supplying current to said lamps, prismatic reflectors for said lamps,

and a row of raised hemispherical reflecting members around the outside of said characters, said roW consisting of raised portions stamped from the metal of the frame and coated With a reflecting paint.

3. In an illuminated sign, a frame comreflectors for said lamps.

l. In an illuminated sign, a frame comprising a transverse pipe having a down 'Wardly extending member attached thereto at its central part, laterally extending tubes connected With said central pipe, roughened reflecting surfaces disposed on each side of sa1d'central pipe, a stiffening rim connecting the outer edges of said reflecting surfaces, incandescent lamps carried by said tubes and being provided with prismatic reflectors, means for supplying current to said lamps through said tubes, and non-reflecting characters carried by said reflecting surfaces.

JOHN FENIMORE DRUAR.

Witnesses:

ADALIE-B. ROOT, ASCAN \V. VON KIT'PNER. 

